Transcript Indoor Air Quality Presented by Carlstien Lutchmedial, CSP, CPP, CMIOSH Introduction • Indoor air is increasingly recognized as being more “dangerous” to human health.

Indoor Air Quality
Presented by Carlstien Lutchmedial,
CSP, CPP, CMIOSH
Introduction
• Indoor air is increasingly recognized as being more “dangerous” to
human health than outdoor air.
• However, comparatively little research has been done to quantify
the human health risks and effects associated with many indoor air
quality (IAQ) factors.
• Human Health Studies are increasing showing that IAQ
implications far exceed concerns over airborne pollutants as mere
allergens or sensory irritants.
• A growing number of chronic illnesses, and even death, are being
linked to exposure to indoor airborne contaminants.
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Introduction (Continued)
• While risk analysis has been performed on many of the contaminants
found in indoor air, such studies have focused upon primarily “outdoor” and
“occupational” exposure scenarios.
• For other types of IAQ contaminants, such as ultrafine particles, volatile
organic compounds (VOC’s), or biochemical toxins, limitations in available
sensing technology have inhibited the collection of data that is:
Timely (data available in “real-time”)
Continuous (high temporal sampling rates)
Highly Sensitive and Accurate (ppb-class performance)
“In-situ” – in the field operability
• The availability of such data will allow the research community to better
quantify the human health risks associated with some of the most
potentially dangerous indoor environmental contaminants.
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Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
Key Signs/Symptoms
• lethargy or fatigue
• headache, dizziness, nausea
• irritation of mucous membranes
• sensitivity to odors
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SBS Diagnostics
• Are problems temporally related to time spent in a
particular building or part of a building?
• Do symptoms resolve when the individual is not in
the building?
• Do symptoms recur seasonally (heating, cooling)?
• Have co-workers, peers noted similar complaints?
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Total Indoor Air Quality
ENERGY
GENERATION
SOURCES
HVAC SYSTEMS
SOURCES
BUILDING
MATERIALS
SOURCES
MANUFACTURING
SOURCES
INDOOR AIR
QUALITY
OUTDOOR AIR
QUALITY
MOBILE
TRANSPORTATION
SOURCES
NATURAL
SOURCES
CONTENTS
OFF-GASING
SOURCES
ACTIVITIES
RELATED
SOURCES
VAPOR
INTRUSION
NATURAL
SOURCES
GROUND WATER QUALITY
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Types of Air Quality Factors, Contaminants & Toxins
Mycotoxins
Glucans
Endotoxins
Allergens
RADON
Tobacco Smoke
OZONE
Dioxins
Heavy Metals
CO
CO2
NOx
COMBUSTION POLLUTANTS
Course
Fine
Ultra-fine
ORGANIC DUST
Asbestos,
Pesticides,
Lead Dust etc.
OCCUPATIONAL
THRESHOLD LIMIT
VALUES (TLV)
PAH’s,
Aldehydes,
Ethers, etc.
VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS (VOC’s)
VENTILATION, TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY
WELL UNDERSTOOD
PARTIALLY UNDERSTOOD
LITTLE UNDERSTOOD
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IAQ Areas of Increasing Emphasis
•Translational research and applications engineering projects are being driven by
indoor air quality factors that are believed to most affect human health and
productivity.
• While many types of air quality contaminants would greatly benefit from improved
risk assessment, risk communications, and risk management emphasis, the activities
are focused upon three categories of pollutants:
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC’s)
PARTICULATE MATTER (Fine & Ultra-Fine)
BIOCHEMICAL TOXINS (Mycotoxins, Endotoxins, etc)
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Radon
• Radon is a cancer-causing natural
radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or
taste. Its presence in your home can pose a
danger to your family's health. Radon is the
leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. Radon is the second leading cause
of lung cancer in America and claims about
20,000 lives annually.
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VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
(VOC’s)
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Volatile Organic Compounds
Increased concern over the presence of volatile organic compounds
(VOC’s) in indoor environments is being driven by:
• A growing number of ground water contamination sites where VOC vapor
intrusion percolating up into buildings is a serious concern.
• Outdoor airborne sources gaining entry into indoor spaces.
• Off-gasing of VOC’s from indoor materials, finishes, furnishings and
consumer products (cleaning materials, etc.)
• VOC’s entering built environments via potable water sources and use.
There are many VOC’s that are listed in the Clean Air Act Amendments
as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP’s) whose average indoor ambient
concentrations are actually higher than their outdoor values.
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Most Frequently Detected VOC’s in Indoor Environments
ODOR
8 Compounds
Odor Threshold < 10 ppb
SENSORY
14 Compounds
IRRITATION
Sensory Irritation Level < 1000 ppb
IAQ STUDIES*
NON-CANCER
> 100 VOC’s DETECTED
CHRONIC
* “Classification of Measured Indoor Volatile
Organic Compounds Based Upon Noncancer
Health and Comfort Considerations”, Hodgson &
Levin, LBNL.
38 Compounds
Chronic Exposure Level < 1000 ppb
9 Compounds
Chronic Exposure Level < 10 ppb
CARCINOGENIC
> 7 Compounds
Cancer Risk Established
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Most Frequently Detected VOC’s in Indoor Environments
MOST SERIOUS
ACROLEIN: SIQ=160 / CTQ=217
BY NON-CANCER CHRONIC TOXICITY
QUOTIENT (CTQ)
FORMALDEHYDE: SIQ=2.3 / CTQ=26
ACROLEIN: CTQ=217
ACETIC ACID: OQ=280 / SIQ=2.2
FORMALDEHYDE: CTQ=26
BY ODOR QUOTIENT (OQ)
ACETIC ACID: OQ=280
OCTANAL: OQ=18
HEXANOIC ACID: OQ=11
HEXANAL: OQ=4.6
NONANAL: OQ=3.5
HEPTANAL: OQ=1.5
ACETALDEHYDE: CTQ=2.2
TETRACHLOROETHENE: CTQ=0.33
NAPHTHALENE: CTQ=0.19
*
BENZENE: CTQ=0.19
TOLUENE: CTQ=0.15
1,3-BUTADIENE:CTQ=0.09
CARBON TETRATCHLORIDE: CTQ=.05
BY SENSORY IRRITATION QUOTIENT (SIQ)
ACROLEIN: SIQ=160
GROUP A CARCINOGEN
GROUP B CARCINOGEN
FORMALDEHYDE: SIQ=2.3
ACETIC ACID: SIQ=2.2
GROUP C CARCINOGEN
* IARC Designation only
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Advanced VOC Sensing Technologies
•
NYIEQ Funding development of a “next generation” field portable gas
chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS) capable of parts-perbillion (ppb) sensitivity in near-real-time (1 to 2 minutes)
•
The sensor is being developed by INFICON, Inc. based upon their
existing HAPSITE sensor product line.
•
This new sensor will offer a very sensitive screening tool that is able to
provide fast onsite analytical results to study VOC dynamics for
dangerous TO-14 & TO-15 compounds.
•
Applications for a variety of uses including, but not limited to:
– Rapid screening for industrial hygiene, research and development,
and environmental investigations at low ppbv concentrations for
indoor air environments.
– Stationary monitoring – near real-time analysis, e.g. anticipated
complete cycle analysis time in approximately three minutes.
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Sources of VOCs
• Household products including: paints, paint
strippers, and other solvents; wood
preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and
disinfectants; moth repellents and air
fresheners; stored fuels and automotive
products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned
clothing.
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VOC- Formaldehyde
• Pressed wood products (hardwood plywood
wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard)
and furniture made with these pressed wood
products. Urea-formaldehyde foam
insulation (UFFI). Combustion sources and
environmental tobacco smoke. Durable
press drapes, other textiles, and glues.
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VOC- Formaldehyde
• a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, can cause
watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes
and throat, nausea, and difficulty in
breathing (0.1 ppm)
• High Concentrations – can trigger asthma
attacks.
• Carcinogenic
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PARTICULATE MATTER
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IAQ Areas of Increasing Emphasis
 Mass/ Log Particle Diameter (m3/ m3 )
PARTICULATES – From “Coarse” to “Fine” to “Ultra-fine”
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“FINE-MODE”
SUSPENDED
PARTICLES
60
50
“The 80’s”
“ COARSE”
40
30
20
“COURSE -MODE””
SUSPENDED
PARTICLES
“The 90’s”
“The 00’s”
“FINE”
“ULTRA-FINE”
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0.1
0.2 0.3 0.5 1.0
2.0 2.5 5.0
10
20
50
100
Aerodynamic Particle Diameter (microns)
TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICLES
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Particulate Matter
- Last year the American Heart Association published a Scientific
Statement regarding Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease.
- Based upon a European, 29 city/ 43 million person study, and a U.S.
90 city/ 50 million person study:
Cardiovascular deaths increase by 0.31% (US) to 0.68% (Europe)
Non-traumatic deaths increase by 0.21% (US) to 0.60% (Europe)
For every 10 micrograms/meter3 increase in PM10
- PM10 levels in U.S. cities range from 26 to 534 micrograms/meter3
NOTE: This risk is NOT a lifestyle choice and it conceptually
impacts total geographic populations.
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Particulate Matter and Mortality Rates
- Non-traumatic deaths attributable to PM exposure:
- 23,000/year in U.S.
- 40,000/year (Austria, France, Switzerland)
- 5000/year in Canada
- Increase in PM Caused Cardiovascular Hospital Admissions:
42,000/year in U.S.
- The World Health Organization estimates:
800,000 PM caused deaths/year world-wide
- 7.9 million disability adjusted life years lost due to PM exposure/year
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Ultra-Fine Particles
• As recently as five years ago, it was believed that particles smaller
than 0.1 microns were breathed in and then out.
• It is now known that ultra-fine particles (< 0.1 microns) pass through
the lungs, into the blood stream and migrate throughout the body
where they can accumulate in the brain and other organs.
• In addition to pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, such
contaminants may be linked to a wide range of other illnesses ranging
from diabetes to abnormal neurological conditions.
• Some researchers believe that ultra-fine particles may actually be
capable of genetic modification via DNA methylation which regulates
gene expression by preventing transcription factors from binding to
promoters.
• Such modifications could explain hypersensitivities and hereditary
predispositions to allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. 22
Advanced Ultra-Fine Particle Counting Sensor Technologies
• Utilizing Commercialization Assistance Program (CAP) funding
provided by the NYS ESDC, NYIEQ Funding development of a “next
generation” ultra-fine particle sensor.
• Rupprecht & Patashnick is designing and building a prototype ultrafine particle counter (UPC) utilizing unique condensation nuclei counter
(CNC) technology developed jointly with Clarkson University.
• Existing devices are difficult to use, because of use of toxic working
fluids, and prone to operational problems due to capillary clogging.
• The new R&P UPC does not employ toxic fluids, eliminates clogging
and is capable of particle size speciation internal to the device down to
2-3 nanometers.
• Currently no criteria pollutant standards exist for ultra-fine particulate
matter. However growing interest in the human health risks associated
with ultra-fine particles is driving the need for more advanced UPC
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capabilities.
BIOCHEMICAL TOXINS
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Biochemical Toxins
• It is clear that certain biochemicals, especially allergens, are
sensory irritants that play a significant role in reducing productivity,
increasing illness and causing workplace absenteeism.
• The controversy over the human health implications of certain
biochemical toxins, especially mycotoxins (mold toxins) has clouded
the scientific questions that remain unanswered regarding these
potent IAQ contaminants.
• Several naturally occurring biochemical toxins are sufficiently
dangerous to be listed as biological warfare agents of concern by the
U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security Agencies.
• The “four most dangerous” of these toxins are: Botulinium,
Staphyloccocus Enter. (B), Ricin, and Tricothecene (T-2).
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Mycotoxins
• Mycotoxins are produced by many species of molds specifically for the
purpose of weakening the immune systems of the hosts upon which they
live, and/or for killing competing mold species.
• Today, IAQ assessments of suspect environments do not test for the
presence of mycotoxins, but rather only sample to identify present mold
species.
• The presence of a species of mold capable of producing a certain
mycotoxin does not imply that those mycotoxins have been produced.
• The conditions under which dangerous mycotoxins will be produced are
not well understood: environmental – temperature, humidity and food
source; competitive – presence of other species of molds.
• The introduction of mycotoxins into the living space can be driven by
“sporatic” events associated with: changes in environment associated with
elimination/reduction in moisture source; unplanned air path creation due
to indoor/outdoor pressure variations, mechanical disturbances, etc.
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Mycotoxins
• Within the food industry, the presence of mycotoxins is highly regulated.
• In veterinary medicine, mycotoxin ingestion is known to cause a wide
range of serious illnesses including neurological problems, hemorrhage,
infertility/miscarriage, cancer and death.
• By the inhalation path, mycotoxins have been should to be 10 to 40 times
more toxic then by ingestion in both animals and humans.
• Over 100 species of molds found indoors are capable of producing
mycotoxins. The most important of these include:
MOLD Types – ALTERNARIA, ASPERGILLUS, BIPOLARIS, CLADOSPORIUM,
FUSARIUM, PAECILOMYCES, PENICILLIUM, STACHYBOTRYS, TRICHODERMA,
TRICHOTHECIUM.
Mycotoxins - Aflatoxin B1/G1, Ochratoxin A, Patulin, Sterigmatocystin,
Zearalenone, Fumonisin B1/B2, T-2*, HT-2, Penicillic Acid, Cyclopiazonic Acid, 3Nitropropionic Acid, Nidulotoxin, Citrinin, Xanthomegnin, Viomellein, Nivanenol, DON,
Scirpene, Fusaric Acid, Roridin E, Satratoxin G&H, Tenuazonic Acid, Trichoverrols,
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Verrucarin J. (* Lethal Dose (LD50) = 24 -120 g/kg by inhalation)
RISK ANALYSIS CHALLENGES
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Sources of IAQ
• Contaminated outdoor air
Pollen , dust, fungal spores,
vehicles, industrial
pollutants,
Parking lots, dumpsters,
drawback of air, intakes
near debris, radon,
underground tanks,
pesticides, standing water
• HVAC Equipment
improper use of
chemicals, sealants,
refrigerants, improper
venting of combustion
products, microbial
growth, dust, dirt
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Sources of IAQ
• Human Activities
Smoking, cooking, body
odors, cosmetics
Housekeeping activities
- Cleaning materials
- Emissions from
storage, fragrances,
airborne dust
• Maintenance Activities
VOC’s – paint, caulk,
adhesives etc.,
Pesticides for pest control
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Sources of IAQ
• Building Components
Carpets, curtains,
shelving, old furniture,
asbestos, lead,
mercury,
Unsanitary conditions
- Water damaged
furniture, poor
drainage, dry traps
• Chemical releases
VOC’s , Inorganics, print
shops, new
furnishings, releases
from re-modeling,
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Human Health Risk
A Notional Portrayal of the Risk Analysis Challenge
(In a perfect world)
OPTIMUM “COST-BENEFIT”
REGULATION LEVEL
MINIMUMALLY
ACCEPTABLE
RISK
“REFERENCE” CONCENTRATION OR DOSE
Environmental Concentration or Dose
Human Health Risk
A Notional Portrayal of the Risk Analysis Challenge
Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Death =
“Fine” Particulates
.031 x PM10 Concentration (micrograms/meter3)
15%
What Increased Risk is “Acceptable” ?
Range of U.S. Cities Ambient Outdoor
Environmental Concentrations
Environmental Concentration
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A Notional Portrayal of the Risk Analysis Challenge
EXPOSURE DURATION
HIGH
HIGH IMMEDIATE
SHORT-TERM RISK
HIGH PRIORITY
LOW
CONCENTRATION
SHORT
LONG
HIGH IMMEDIATE
SHORT-TERM RISK
MEDIUM PRIORITY
Occupational
Safety &
Sick Building
Syndrome
LOW IMMEDIATE
LOW IMMEDIATE
AND LOW LONGTERM RISK
LOW PRIORITY
AND
??? LONG-TERM
RISK
The IAQ
Challenge
HIGHEST PRIORITY?
Based upon # of people
potentially affected
Environmental Accident
or Terrorism
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A Notional Portrayal of the Risk Analysis Challenge
IAQ CONTAMINANTS
Human Health Risk
“Long Exposure Curve”
“Short Exposure Curve”
THE CHALLENGE
“Acceptable” Risk
“Acceptable” Level (Short Exposure)
“Acceptable”
IAQ Level
Environmental Concentration
Average lifetime daily dose?
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IEQ and Human Productivity
• Based upon average salary and benefits costs, compared with average cost of space
per employee, annual employee costs are typically 10 times higher that occupancy costs.
• Therefore, an increase in worker productivity of 1% equates to approximately 10% of
annual occupancy costs. ($300 to $600/year/employee on average)
• A large number of productivity studies (> 1000) have investigated the impact of
temperature and humidity, lighting, and ventilation on individual productivity. These studies
generally conclude that improved lighting, ventilation and thermal control results in a 5 to
10% productivity improvement.
• Studies in California have conservatively concluded that a 1% productivity and health
gain can be expected for LEED Certified and Silver buildings and a 1.5% gain can be
expected for Gold and Platinum level buildings.
• Even at the most conservative (1-1.5%) level, the annual cost benefit savings (1-1.5%)
times (salary + benefits) is very large in comparison to high performance building ($/ft2)
construction and annual operating “green premium” costs.
On a national level, such direct performance improvements equate to a
savings of between $20 to $235 Billion Dollars per year.
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The Economics of IAQ
• Human Health related savings associated with the reduction in IEQ related illnesses
offer a significant financial return on investment as well:
• Conservative estimates for IEQ illness related health care costs include:
• Respiratory Disease - $6 to 16 Billion Dollars per year
• Allergies and Asthma - $1 to 5 Billion Dollars per year
• Sick Building Syndrome - $ 10 to 40 Billion Dollars per year
TOTAL: $ 17 to 61 Billion Dollars per year
• Estimated 176 million “lost work” days and associated estimated 121 million “restricted
work” days valued at approximately $34 Billion dollars per year for just common cold,
influenza, pneumonia and bronchitis.
• The NYIEQ is sponsoring a major series of IAQ Productivity Studies at Upstate
Medical University in conjunction with the U.S. EPA/IEMB.
The economic value of human health improvements directly attributable
to improved IAQ is extremely large – i.e. $50 to $95 Billion/Year.37
SUMMARY
• There is increasing recognition that Indoor Air Quality is far more dangerous to
human health then is outdoor air quality.
• The research community is beginning to place greater emphasis upon obtaining data
that correlates exposure to indoor airborne contaminants to productivity and human
health implications.
• While high-dose, short-duration exposure to certain airborne contaminants has
driven much of the focus of occupational and outdoor IAQ regulations, low-dose, longduration exposures are far more difficult to study, but far more relevant to the broader
implications of IAQ.
• “Risk Analysis” driven by the availability of new sensor data will be extremely
important to determining the relationship between environmental concentrations,
exposure times and human health risk for many IAQ scenarios applicable to broad
population segments.
• Ten years from now, we will look back upon the concept of “air conditioning” - which
today infers temperature and humidity control, with a far greater understanding of all
the human health risk implications of inhaled contaminants that today are not properly
understood, and therefore are not being properly addressed.
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